Combined fishhook and live bait holder



Oct. 30, 1951 c. A. HERRICK COMBINED FISHHOOK AND LIVE BAIT HOLDER FiledApril 4, 1950 INVENTOR. CLAUD A. HEnmcK Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED FISHHOOK AND LIVE BAIT HOLDER olaua A.Herrick, Rochester, N. Y. Application April 4', 1950, Serial No. 153,8752 Claims. (01. 43-443) My invention relates to a combined fishhook andlive bait holder. v

A primary object of the invention is to provide a combined fishhook andlive bait holder which is highly simplified in construction, unitary,and extremely sturdy and durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined flshhook andbait holder including novel means for securing live bait in place uponthe holder in such a, manner that it will not be crushed or mutilated,the bait, however, being firmly held so that it will not be accidentallydisplaced from the holder.

A further object is to provide a combined fishhook and bait holderincluding an integral plug or sinker which is formed in a novel mannerto aid in firmly securing the bait to the holder, so that the baitcannot escape during casting, trolling and the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined deviceof the above-mentioned character which is neat and attractiveinappearance and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a combined flshhook and live baitholder embodying my invention and illustrating the use of the same;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the combined fishhook and bait holder; v

Figure 3 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section taken on line 3-3of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illustration, is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral designates a fishhookincluding the usual pointed barb I l and straight, elongated,longitudinal shank portion I2 integral therewith. The end portion of theshank portion l2 remote from the barb II is bent upon itself to form asmall, substantially circular, closed, line-attaching eye l3 integraltherewith, and a second or companion, straight, elongated, longitudinalshank portion l4 arranged adjacent to one side of the shank portion I2in substantially contacting relation therewith, as shown. The companionshank portion M has its end portion remote from the eye l3 upwardlydirected or bent to form an integral, substantially U- shaped, lateralextension or end portion [5 integral therewith, and this end portion I5is disposed substantially in lateral alignment with the tip of the barbll, Figure 3. As shown in the drawings, the U-shaped end portion l5 andfishhook l0 lie in substantially parallel planes separated laterally bythe thickness of the wire forming the fishhook, Figure 4. Theline-attaching eye l3, however, is preferably arranged in a planesubstantially at right angles to the planes of the fishhook and U-shapedend portion l5.

On the end portion of the lateral, U-shaped end portion [5 remote fromthe shank portions l2 and I4 is formed a straight, elongated,longitudinal bait-holding or impaling pin or shank portion I6 extendingparallel to and spaced lat erally from the shank portions l2 and M, asshown. The bait-holding pin l6 extends for substantially the entirelength of the shank portions l2 and I4, and is provided at its free endwith a pointed barb l1 serving to prevent the accidental displacement oflive bait [8 from the pin. The barb I1 is disposed substantially laterally opposite the eye [3, as shown. The barbs II and I! are pointed inthe same direction, and longitudinally spaced as shown, and the fishhook"l0 and bait-holding pin l6 lie in parallel planes and are separatedlaterally only by the thickness ofthe wire forming the fishhook.

The entire construction thus far described is preferably formed from asingle or unitary section of tempered steel wire, or the like. I wish topoint out at this time that I contemplate making my combined fishhookand live bait holder in various sizes for catching various types of fishand for holding various types and sizes of live bait.

The companion shank portions I2 and H are embedded or molded within thebottom of an elongated, wide, longitudinal, weighted cradle plate orsinker I9, which is generally U-shaped or dished in transversecross-section and throughout its entire length, as shown. This cradleplate or sinker I9 is preferably formed of solid lead,- or the like, andthe cradle plate extends equidistantly laterally beyond the oppositesides of the bait-holding pin l6, Figures 2 and 4, the fishhook shankportions I 2 being slightly offset laterally from the longitudinal axisof the pin l 6 and cradle plate l9, as shown in Figure 4. As best shownin Figures 3 and 4, the upwardly directed or top edges of the U-shapedcradle plate l9 project slightly above the bait-holding pin I 6, and thecradle plate I 9 preferably extends throughout the major portion of thelength of the pin [6.

In use, the fishing line or a catgut or plastic leader 20 is connectedwith the eye [3' in the usual manner. The live bait I8 is forced ontothe bait-holding or impaling pin [-6 in the manner shown in Figure 1,with the bottom side of the bait engaging within the U-shaped cradleplate or sinker I9. Since the cradle plateI9 is elongated and extendsfor substantially the entire length of the pin [6, the maximum area ofcontact is provided between the bait l 8 and cradle from the eye beingbent to form a fishhook extending laterally of the shank portion, theend portion of the othershank portion remote from the eye being bent toform a substantially U- shaped lateral extension projecting laterallybeyond the sides of the shank portions remote from the fishhook, saidU-shaped lateral extension being bent to form a substantially straightelongated .bait holding pin 1 extending longitudinally of. and parallelto the shank portions throughout substantially the entire length of theshank portions, the bait-holding pin being spaced plate. Thisarrangement materially aidstin firm-.-

ly securing the live bait to the bait-holding pin.

16, so that it will not be accidentally displaced during casting,trolling or the like. Likewise; the U-shaped cradle plate or sinker |9.coacts-.with..

the longitudinal, laterally spaced pin I6to position the bait in a realor lifelike manner,pas-the..-

bait is drawn through the water. Since the barb I1 isfully embeddedwithin thebait 18, as shown, it 'is practically impossible for the baitto rdi sengage'the pin 16' and U-shaped cradle-plate. IS. The extremelyfirm mounting of the bait: upon theiholding pin [6 further tends toprevent tearingpand mutilation of the baitwhile it is being drawnthrough thewater, or dragged-uponthe bottom.

The bait-holding pin is so arrangedthat the bait may be mounted upon thepin and cradle plate [9 with either the head or tailend of the baitdirected forwardly or in the direction ofthe barbs l and-H. It should benoted that the element. 19 serves not only, as.a sinker, cradle orsupport-forthe bait l8-and anchoringmeansfor the. companion shanks l2and H, but also-par,- tially conceals theshanks I2:and l4 Whilesubstantially completely concealing the pin I6 from the view of thefish. The disposition-ofthecompanion shanks l2' and l4 within thebottomv of the U-shaped sinker or cradle plate l9 forms a veryrigid andstrong construction.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed isto be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in shape, size andarrangament of parts may be resortedto without departing from thespirit of the invention orthe scope of thesubjoined claims. 7 7

Having thus described myinvention, I claim:

1. A unitary combined.fishhookanddive.bait holder comprising. asinglesectionof. wirev bent to form apair ofelongated.substantiallystraight parallel contacting shank portionsformed. at adijacent end portions to provide anattaching eye, the endportion of one shank portion. remote laterallyofthe shank portions, anda substantially, U-sliaped elongated weighted cradle plate arrangedadjacent to the shank portions and baitholding pin'and having the shankportions embeddedtherein, thelcradle plate extending laterally beyondopposite sides of the shank portions and bait-holding pin, thebait-holding pin being disposed centrally of the UL-shaped cradle platefor coaction therewith to. firmly securebait to the pin and cradleplate.

2.- A unitary combined'fishhook and live bait holder comprising a,single section-of wirebent to form .a' pair of elongated substantiallystraight parallel contacting. shankportions formed at adjacent endportions to provide an attaching eye, the end portion of one shankportion remote from the-eyebeing bent, to forma fishhookextending,laterally of theashankportionthe endportion-of the other shankaportionremotev fromv the eye-. beingbent to form a substantially U-shapedlateral extension projectinglaterally beyond" the sides of the. shankportions remote fro-m the shank hook, said. U J shaped Llateralextensionbeing bent to form'a substantially straight elongated baitho1ding p in extendinglongitudinally of and parallelto;the-shank-portions throughout substantially the entire length of theshankportions; thebait .holding pin beingspaced laterally of. theshankportions, and: a substantially U shapedelongatediweighted:cradleplatearranged adjacent toetheeshankzportionsandbait holding pinand-:7v having: theshankportions embedded therein,

OLAUD A. HERRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of record'in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED" STATES PATENTS

